Bank steps up to reward champs
ANZ ‘happy to help’ as PM asks sponsors to consider payout
Major Silver Ferns sponsor ANZ has agreed to contribute to a fund to reward the New Zealand side for their championship-winning play at the Netball World Cup.
The Ferns claimed a thrilling 52-51 victory over Australia in the World Cup final in Liverpool but their players won’t be receiving any prize money for winning the tournament.
Pointing out the invaluable exposure that major sponsors received from the Ferns’ efforts, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called on sponsors to consider a payout.
“I wouldn’t want to call [the sponsors] out but ultimately they’re the ones that derive benefit from us being the best on the world stage,” Ardern told the The AM Show.
“I think it should really just be a question for us, ‘does that feel fair’? Because it does tend to, of course, be those sports like netball where you don’t see that same attraction of sponsorship.
“You couldn’t have watched that game and say that those players weren’t deserving of recognition . . . Go on, why not [give them a bonus].”
ANZ responded to the Prime Minister’s comments, saying they’re happy to contribute towards a fund to provide the Ferns with a payout.
“The Silver Ferns’ World Cup victory was inspirational, so we’re happy to work with other key stakeholders to contribute to a fund in recognition of the team’s commitment and dedication,” an ANZ spokesperson said.
“ANZ values its partnership with Netball NZ and is incredibly proud of the . . . victory. Over the last 10 years, through highs and lows, we have invested about $30 million to help grow the sport of netball in New Zealand across all levels of the game from grassroots to elite.
“[ANZ has supported] women’s sport in New Zealand for more than 10 years and we look forward to continuing this well into the future.”
Another of the Silver Ferns’ major sponsors, MYOB, said player incentives are negotiated through
Netball NZ and not through sponsors.
“Elite sports funding is complex and we are proud to play our part through our significant contribution to Netball NZ, the Silver Ferns and grassroots netball across the years of our partnership,” a MYOB spokesperson told the Herald. “Player payments and incentives are negotiated with Netball NZ.”
Questions were raised when it was revealed that the world champion Silver Ferns won’t be receiving any prize money, while the Black Caps received $3 million for coming second in the Cricket World Cup.
However, the money received by the Black Caps was put up by the International Cricket Council and not by sponsors.
Regardless, Ardern still urged sponsors to consider giving the Ferns a payout. “As a general principle, I think New Zealanders would like to see fair acknowledgement of sportspeople when they reach the top of their code, and that should include netball,” she said.
International Netball Federation chief executive Clare Briegal told RNZ’s Morning Report that netball is still at the early stages of commercial development, and that prize money was not even considered.
“Prize money’s not something that’s even on the table for our netballers.”
Briegal also added that more exposure is needed for netball to grow, as well as develop commercially.
“Without that exposure, the sponsors aren’t so readily there . . . there was growing money coming into the sport, but it is so little.”
The subject of pay has also come up during the aftermath of the Ferns’ triumph in Liverpool.
Top Silver Ferns players earn about $130,000, about a tenth of what All Blacks captain Kieran Read earns.
The Silver Ferns’ World Cup victory was inspirational, so we’re happy to . . . contribute to a fund in recognition. ANZ statement
New Zealand Rugby also receives about 10 times more sponsors than Netball New Zealand.
Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie told RNZ the governing body would like to pay the Silver Ferns more but it needs to be weighed up against growing the sport at grassroots level.
“Overall there needs to be recognition for the value of women’s sport, and also at an international level our governing body needs to work as hard as they can to really maximise the benefit of the 20 million young women and girls that play netball around the globe.”
As New Zealand comes down from the high of this week’s spectacular Netball World Cup victory, the Silver Ferns should be entitled to say: Show me the money. The Ferns, led by coach Noeline Taurua, claimed a thrilling single-point victory in Monday morning’s final against Australia in Liverpool, completing a stunning redemption for a team who finished without a medal in last year’s Commonwealth Games.
However, it was later revealed that the Ferns didn’t receive a penny in prize-money for their efforts to claim our first World Cup in 16 years.
Compare this to the Black Caps, who (somewhat unfairly) finished as the runners-up in the Cricket World Cup, yet took away $3 million to share among the team, coaches and staff.
Some have argued that the discrepancy in prize money is merely a reflection of the global audiences for the two sports, and the revenues they attract.
However, the World Cup was supported by big crowds and decent TV viewing numbers as England got behind its Roses, the semifinalists who have built a big following since their gold medal effort at the Games.
The tournament also has a strong title sponsor in private medical insurance firm VitalityHealth. Between the sponsor, the gate takings and the TV revenue you would think there would be some money available for a gold medal prize.
Like the men’s cricket and rugby world cups, this event is a pinnacle of the sport — the glare of the spotlight is equally as strong, the weight of expectation equally as heavy, the achievement in victory just as great.
That is why it is disappointing such a fantastic result has yet to be rewarded financially.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday called for the team’s own sponsors — including ANZ Bank and business software firm MYOB — to come to the party with a World Cup-winning bonus. Ardern said: “You couldn’t have watched that game and say that those players weren’t deserving of recognition.”
ANZ responded by saying it was happy to contribute to a fund to provide the Ferns with prize money. This is welcome news and it is hoped that other “key stakeholders” join the call.
Most of the Silver Ferns are not fulltime, professional athletes. They are balancing family life, careers and sport. Top players such as Maria Folau earn a decent salary, but much of their earnings comes from sponsorship. Experienced defender Casey Kopua has a fulltime job on top of netball
— as do other players — and the charming scenes of her and 3-year-old daughter Maia after the final highlight the parental responsibilities for members of the squad. This makes their achievement all the more remarkable. It is important that this success becomes something to aspire to for the next generations of netballers.
Young players watching their heroes triumph shouldn’t have to see them miss out while our male sport stars are paid handsomely. The Silver Ferns have won gold for this country, now they deserve some of their own.